Former West standout gets first college tournament title

Published: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 9:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 9:14 p.m.

Former West Henderson High wrestling standout Brandon Harrison reached a milestone over the weekend at the Newberry Open in Newberry, S.C., by winning his first title at a collegiate tournament.

“He had an extraordinary weekend,” his father, Bill Harrison, said. “He finally got his first college tournament title, and as a father, it was definitely one of the proudest moments of my life.”

For Brandon Harrison, now a sophomore at Limestone College, the biggest win came in the semifinals against UT Chattanooga’s Campbell Lewis.

“This Lewis kid was a four-time Tennessee state champion in high school,” Bill Harrison said. “Brandon had one of the best matches of his life. He put together a complete match from start to finish and got the 9-5 decision win.”

That put him in the championship match in the 125-pound weight class, and it also ended up giving him the title.

“The kid he was supposed to wrestle from Appalachian State got hurt in the semifinals and had to have stitches in his head. That gave Brandon the title by medical default,” Bill Harrison said.

Prior to that, Brandon Harris defeated Newberry’s Ethan Nobles by major decision in the first round and Anderson’s Gregory Williams by a 40-second pin in the second.

By winning the title, Brandon Harrison, who was the 2010 Times-News Wrestler of the Year after going 42-2 his senior year, has earned the starting spot for the 125 class for Limestone.

Up next for the Harrison and the Spartans is a trip to his old college, UNC Pembroke. The match begins at 7 p.m. tonight.

<p>Former West Henderson High wrestling standout Brandon Harrison reached a milestone over the weekend at the Newberry Open in Newberry, S.C., by winning his first title at a collegiate tournament.</p><p>“He had an extraordinary weekend,” his father, Bill Harrison, said. “He finally got his first college tournament title, and as a father, it was definitely one of the proudest moments of my life.”</p><p>For Brandon Harrison, now a sophomore at Limestone College, the biggest win came in the semifinals against UT Chattanooga's Campbell Lewis.</p><p>“This Lewis kid was a four-time Tennessee state champion in high school,” Bill Harrison said. “Brandon had one of the best matches of his life. He put together a complete match from start to finish and got the 9-5 decision win.”</p><p>That put him in the championship match in the 125-pound weight class, and it also ended up giving him the title.</p><p>“The kid he was supposed to wrestle from Appalachian State got hurt in the semifinals and had to have stitches in his head. That gave Brandon the title by medical default,” Bill Harrison said.</p><p>Prior to that, Brandon Harris defeated Newberry's Ethan Nobles by major decision in the first round and Anderson's Gregory Williams by a 40-second pin in the second.</p><p>By winning the title, Brandon Harrison, who was the 2010 Times-News Wrestler of the Year after going 42-2 his senior year, has earned the starting spot for the 125 class for Limestone.</p><p>Up next for the Harrison and the Spartans is a trip to his old college, UNC Pembroke. The match begins at 7 p.m. tonight.</p><p>“There's a little bit of motivation there. He's looking forward to it,” Bill Harrison said.</p>